Alumni of the Year Award

Alumni of the Year Awards

The College Alumni of the Year program recognizes alumni who have made a significant contribution to human or institutional progress in which a situation, institution or movement has been materially changed for the better because of their participation.

This award recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni whose personal lives, professional accomplishments and community service best exemplify the mission of Mississippi State University.

2024 Alumni of the Year

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Paul Kinsey is a foreign language and international business graduate who spent his career traveling around the world. After graduating from MSU in 1987, he furthered his education at Georgia State University, earning an MBA. Kinsey’s globetrotting-career journey began at Threads USA, where he worked as director of international sales. He later joined US Air (US Airways) and assumed progressive roles in areas including operational oversight, emergency response planning, and labor negotiations/relations over the next 25 years. His work contributed to the organization’s mergers with America West Airlines, followed by American Airlines. 

Upon retiring from American Airlines in 2019, Kinsey joined Starkville-based real estate brokerage Mississippi Magnolia as director of operations in 2022. He is grateful for the influence of several MSU faculty mentors he gained as a student and credits their guidance for much of his academic and professional success. 

In return, he has generously invested in scholarship support to assist current and future Bulldog students. The Trenton, Tennessee native considers Tupelo his true home, and now resides in Starkville near his beloved alma mater. 

Past Recipients

  • 1990 Cynthia Pharr, '68, '74
  • 1991 James F. Young, '60
  • 1993 Pam M. Plager, '81
  • 1994 James W. Hammond, '35
  • 1995 Luther T. Brantley, III, '74
  • 1996 Dr. John P. Elliott, Jr., '55
  • 1997 Dr. Fred G. Corley, Jr., '68
  • 1998 Dr. William H. Coltharp, '77
  • 1999 Cherri M. Musser, '73
  • 2000 Hugh W. Latimer, '62
  • 2001 Dr. Karen D. Hulett, '71
  • 2002 No Selection
  • 2003 George P. Kappler, '69
  • 2004 Mark C. Rohr, '73
  • 2005 Bill Gillon, '80
  • 2006 Dr. Susan Brown-Skrobot, '78, '80, '83
  • 2007 Amy Tuck, '85, '94
  • 2008 Dr. Jimmy L. Solomon, '66
  • 2009 Dr. Larry Grillot, ‘68
  • 2010 Lloyd Solomon, ’88, ‘90
  • 2011 Martha Swain, ‘50
  • 2012 Dr. Don Hall, ‘62
  • 2013 John D. “Jack” Sistrunk, Jr., ‘49
  • 2014 Hank Johnston, ‘65
  • 2015 Malcolm L. Lightsey, ’61, ‘63
  • 2016 Robert P. Bowen, ‘63
  • 2017 John H. Richards, Jr., ‘56
  • 2018 Dr. Howard Shook, Jr., '62
  • 2019 Cynthia M. "Cindy" Stevens, '83
  • 2020 Mark Worthey, '84
  • 2021 Robert L. Barnes, '72
  • 2022 Dr. A. Randle “Randy” White, '66
  • 2023 Gus Colvin Jr., '62